Romans 6: 12-18; Psalm 124; Luke 12: 39-48
Just after we begin to put our trust in the God of Paul, always faithful in a loving covenant based on grace, wham! Jesus tells a story about a slave who is left in charge, but when the master is away, he begins to “beat the other slaves.” When the master returns on a least expected day, the master will “cut him in pieces”. Those of us “in charge” had better take note. Paul continues to encourage us “to present your members to God as instruments of justice.” And thank God that those who were once slaves to sin, now have become obedient to God “from the heart.”
How are you obedient to God? How could each of your bodily parts (“members”) be instruments of justice? Your tongue, your eyes, your ears, your heart, your arms and hands, your sexuality (the source of so much energy), your legs and feet? Contemplate your body and thank God that you are not cut in pieces but gradually, faithfully being made whole by the Spirit.
We do trust your faithful love, gracious God, even when we have been unfaithful. Where sin has abounded in us or in the world, may your grace triumph.